Wallaceburg bolsters its high school football program

Wallaceburg Tartans football team celebrates winning the |Bronze Boot, November 2, 2023

In about 48 hours on the weekend, the Wallaceburg Tartans football program went from being on life support to possibly having a bright future.

Through community fundraising, $15,000 was raised to help ensure the Tartan football program can continue.

Retired Tartan coach Rob MacLachlan wrote a heartfelt plea on social media on Saturday, saying the football team could be discontinued due to 30 helmets needing to be purchased for $13,000, which is something that the Lambton-Kent District School Board does not fund.

A GoFundMe campaign quickly raised $13,000 in a span of 24 hours. The Wallaceburg Sports of Fame also pledged $2,000 to help with the cause.

Although he retired in 2022, MacLachlan helped out with the team this past season and plans on continuing to do so. Due to insurance reasons, football helmets have a shelf life of 10 years. The majority of the team’s helmets expired after this past season.

MacLachlan said in his post that football at Wallaceburg District Secondary School has been very important to the culture of the school over the years.

“It’s not because of one thing or one person but the result of many people and experiences we have all had,” MacLachlan said.